But now the 23-year-old has muddied the waters – and delivered a blow to Arsenal – by revealing that he does not want to leave Juve at all.

He said: “I do not know when my future will be clear, but basically I’m in no hurry because I have a contract with one of the best clubs in the world.

“At Juventus, I feel at home. I wish my last match with Juve was not my last in Italy, I hope to play in more.

“It’s obvious that I don’t want to go and play for a club I don’t want to play for. I’ve got a contract with Juventus and I can have a say, but in the end it depends on the two clubs [Juventus and Real Madrid].”